fossil fuels

Vigils are being held across the country Tuesday, including in Eugene, to show opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline. This week the U.S. Senate could approve legislation for the pipeline. President Barack Obama has indicated he will veto it.

The pipeline would move heavy crude from Canada's tar sands region through the U.S. to the Texas Gulf Coast. Supporters say it will create jobs and lower fuel prices.

Debra McGee is an activist with the No KXL Pipeline group in Lane County. She says they want Congress and the President to focus on clean energy projects.

An initiative to add Eugene to a growing list of U-S cities choosing to divest from fossil fuel companies gained early traction Monday night. With a unanimous vote, the City Council decided to take up the issue at a future meeting.

Currently Eugene does not directly invest in any fossil fuel companies, but it does invest about a half million dollars indirectly through the state-run Local Government Investment Pool.

Mayor Kitty Piercy is pushing the divestment initiative, in part, to further the city’s sustainability goals.